Improvement calls made for shop fronts

This was claimed at an open meeting held by Welbeck Community Association, held at the Sure Start Children’s Centre this week.

“Improvement of the frontages would give a much better impression of the estate as a whole,” said association chairman Dennis Mayoh.

He added: “The business owners are prepared to invest money on redecoration but they are unwilling to do so until security is provided.”

Ashfield District Council’s urban regeneration co-ordinator, Mark Fiander, has been involved with the initiative and a report has been produced.

A suggestion was previously made that two shops which have been empty for a long time could be converted into flats.

But an alternative idea put forward at this week’s meeting was to turn the pair of properties into a focal point for use by community groups and the police as well as for councillors’ surgeries.

The council’s deputy leader, Coun John Wilmott (Lab), said he would speak to their estates department and see what could be done.

Residents felt there was a need to be proactive and to ‘show the community what is possible’.